PAY GRADE: 32E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

The Associate Director/Sr. Assistant Dean of Students is responsible for overseeing case management and alternative resolution processes within the Community Standards & Conflict Resolution (CSCR) office. This role includes managing student conduct cases, ensuring a fair and consistent application of University policies and procedures, and overseeing alternative resolution methods, such as restorative practices, facilitated dialogue, mediation, and conflict coaching. The Associate Director/Sr. Assistant Dean of Students is dedicated to fostering educational opportunities that promote constructive dialogue, a culture of accountability, and responsibility within the University community. The position collaborates closely with the CSCR team to ensure seamless integration of traditional and alternative resolution processes. Additionally, the Associate Director/Sr. Assistant Dean of Students plays a key role in enhancing alternative resolution processes, evaluating their effectiveness, and ensuring equity in their application. The role also includes promoting collaborative efforts across campus departments to improve the overall handling of conflicts and student conduct cases.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manage a Diverse Caseload of Conduct Cases

• Manage disciplinary processes from intake to resolution for a specified caseload, including violations related to academic misconduct, Residence Life & Housing (RLH), UDPD, off-campus violations, athletic groups, RSOs, and other reported incidents.
• Resolve cases through appropriate adjudication processes and apply sanctions ranging from reprimands to expulsion, ensuring compliance with the Student Guide to University Policies (SGUP).
• Advise students on their rights, responsibilities, and the student conduct process.
• Collaborate with appropriate partners to connect students involved in high-risk cases with support services. Provide guidance and referrals for students who may benefit from academic or behavioral intervention programs.
• Regularly assess patterns in student behavior and proactively engage with students to offer support, educational resources, and early interventions.
• Serve as a point of contact for assigned caseload, including students and parents, regarding case status and conduct history. Manage inquiries via phone and email, ensuring adherence to FERPA guidelines, explaining policies and sanctions, and referring cases to the appropriate staff or offices as needed, while documenting all communications.
• Implement proactive communication strategies to ensure transparency and clarity throughout the conduct process, addressing concerns before they escalate.
• Proactively monitor the progress of cases, ensuring timeliness and completeness of the process, and initiate any necessary corrective actions to resolve delays or inconsistencies.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of administrative tasks, referring students to campus resources as necessary.

Strategic Oversight of Alternative Resolution

• Lead and oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of alternative resolution options, including restorative practices, mediation, facilitated dialogue, and conflict coaching. Ensure that these processes are effectively integrated into both traditional and alternative student conduct case management.
• Lead the identification of cases suitable for alternative resolution and manage these cases from intake to resolution, ensuring restorative approaches are used appropriately. Facilitate restorative practice circles, mediation sessions, and other alternative conflict resolution processes for students.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director to identify cases that may be better suited for alternative resolution, supporting students through the process.
• Oversee the entire process of alternative resolution cases, from intake through to resolution, ensuring accurate documentation and case management within Maxient.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of alternative resolution processes, ensuring that they meet desired outcomes and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and implement methods for evaluating the success of alternative resolution strategies, identifying areas for improvement and enhancing the program’s effectiveness.
• Ensure that alternative resolution strategies are applied equitably across all student populations, and work toward continuous improvement in their application and effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the Coordinator, Case Management and Alternative Resolution, to ensure appropriate cases are identified for alternative dispute resolution and to track the overall effectiveness of these methods.
• Oversee the coordination of campus partners to enact restorative and alternative resolution practices across academic and student support areas.
• Assist Assistant Director with case management by reviewing trends of traditional and alternative resolution, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing changes to enhance case resolution processes.

Supervision and Leadership

• Supervise and provide strategic oversight for the Coordinator of Case Management & Alternative Resolution, Graduate Student, and Peer Educators. Ensure that staff are trained, supported, and working toward a consistent and effective implementation of student conduct and alternative resolution processes.
• Lead and mentor the Coordinator, ensuring that all case management and alternative resolution strategies are aligned with the broader departmental goals and university policies.
• Provide leadership and guidance in the development of educational programs and resources related to student conduct and restorative practices, working closely with CSCR staff to ensure that programs are implemented effectively.
• Foster a collaborative team culture, providing regular feedback and support to team members, while also encouraging innovation and new ideas in the resolution process.
• Oversee the recruitment and training of peer educators and other CSCR-related roles.

Oversee and Develop Educational Programs and Materials

• Oversee and develop educational materials and programs aimed at engaging students, faculty, and staff in understanding the student conduct process, behavioral expectations, alternative resolution and University policies to foster a culture of accountability.
• Design presentations, workshops, and outreach efforts to raise awareness of CSCR, conflict resolution, and restorative practices across the campus community.
• Oversee the development and implementation of educational sanctions for students that prioritize reflection and personal growth.
• Ensure that educational programs and sanctions are inclusive, addressing the needs of all student populations, and that they are regularly evaluated for effectiveness.

Analyze Case Trends and Effectiveness

• Analyze trends in both traditional and alternative resolution cases to identify patterns, themes, and opportunities for improvements.
• Assess the effectiveness of alternative resolution strategies and make data-driven recommendations for program and process improvements.
• Provide regular feedback to leadership on the impact of alternative resolution strategies, ensuring alignment with the University’s broader mission and student development goals.

Collaborative Leadership Across Campus

• Lead cross-departmental collaborations to ensure that alternative resolution practices are integrated into the campus community. Work with departments such as Residence Life & Housing, Athletics, and Student Organizations to ensure a unified approach to case management and conflict resolution.
• Promote the integration of restorative practices into various aspects of campus life, working with faculty, staff, and administration to build a restorative culture.
• Work closely with the Director of Community Standards & Conflict Resolution to ensure departmental objectives and strategies are aligned with the university's broader student affairs goals.

Title IX Sanctioning Officer

• Serve as a lead officer for the University Title IX, Sexual Misconduct, and Non-Discrimination policy, ensuring compliance with Title IX regulations and University policies. 

Professional Development and Training

• Regularly assess and update training materials for staff and students to ensure continuous improvement in conflict resolution strategies and case management.
• Support ongoing professional development for yourself and team members, fostering a growth mindset and the continuous evolution of the team’s knowledge and skills.

Other Duties

• Participate in division-wide and campus-wide committees.
• Represent Community Standards & Conflict Resolution at campus-wide events.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to stay current with emerging trends, best practices, and legal requirements in student conduct and conflict resolution.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in higher education, student personnel, counseling services, conflict resolution, or a closely related field is required, doctorate in a relevant field is preferred, and five years of
  progressive experience in student conduct administration, alternative resolution practices, or case management within higher education.
• Experience supervising professional and student staff, facilitating conflict resolution processes, and managing high-level conduct cases.
• Experience with program development, assessment, and cross-departmental collaboration is essential.
• Expert-level knowledge of student conduct processes, including investigations, adjudication, sanctions, and appeals; applies developmental theory to inform decision-making.
• Advanced expertise in restorative practices, mediation, conflict coaching, and facilitated dialogue.
• Extensive knowledge of federally mandated policies and reporting requirements.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication; experience in public speaking, training facilitation, and policy interpretation.
• Experience as Title IX Sanctioning Officer or adjudicator preferred.
• Experience with engagement in professional development and emerging trends in student conduct, conflict resolution, and higher education law.
• Deep commitment to DEI and culturally responsive practices.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, complex projects, and long-term initiatives with precision.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and rapidly changing technical environment.

Special Requirements:

• Occasional evening and weekend work required in support of University priorities and student needs.
• Frequent facilitation of emotionally sensitive meetings or resolution processes requiring emotional resilience, active listening, and conflict de-escalation skills.
• Role is primarily based indoors, with regular travel across campus for meetings, outreach, and programming.
• Requires sustained engagement with students in high-stress situations and the ability to maintain composure and professionalism under pressure.